Jo Cameron is an elderly woman from Scotland with a special gift bestowed on her by nature: she never feels any physical pain. For example, if she happens to smell singed flesh it means that her skin is burning unaccompanied by any feeling of pain as a warning to her. This is because she along with another person, are the only people in the world born with an exceptional genetic mutation. She not only feels any pain but is virtually free from anxiety and fear as well. Interestingly, she became aware of this difference when she became 65 years old, when a doctor, after a serious surgery on her could not believe that she needs no post-surgical pain killers.
What Makes Jo Cameron's Extraordinary?
During the lifetime of this incredible Scottish woman, her skin was burnt, hands were broken, and underwent surgery without feeling any pain whatsoever. And the funny thing is that she never realized that there was something extraordinary about her until she was in her 60s, as a recent case study shows.
Scientific Research on the Condition
Scientists are always interested in people with unusual characteristics like lack of physical pain. This is because they wish to discover ways to aid people who suffer from pain and lessen it as much as possible. In this particular case, this woman approached a hospital for a hand surgery that is usually painful, although she didn't need any painkillers, once the surgery was over. A group of researchers found this strange and set out to find the cause. They found that Cameron's condition was related to a couple of mutations on the genetic level.
Research Findings
The researchers published a paper on their studies which stated that although the woman was diagnosed of arthritis of the hip, she failed to feel any pain in spite of the serious extent of the degeneration of her joints. In fact, she continued her life until the ripe old age of 60, feeling no pain whatsoever without in the least aware of anything strange happening to her. She had dental surgeries requiring no anesthesia, broken bones, painless cuts, and burns. Apart from these, she seldom felt things like depression, panic, anxiety, fear, etc. Even a recent car accident left her unruffled according to the research study.
Intrigued, her doctors suggested that she talk to the team of pain genetics at the University College in London. Their analytical efforts revealed certain missing DNA in the pseudogene, which is a corrupted version of wholly functional genes that were considered to be junk, although this can play a role sometimes. There was also a single-switched nucleotide in Cameroon's FAAH gene that produces the fatty acid enzyme called amide hydrolase. Earlier research had revealed that all those who have minute variations in the FAAH gene exhibit less pain and anxiety.
The researchers are excited at this, as now they can study this part of the genome to aid people suffering from chronic pain and increased anxiety, as mentioned in the British Journal of Anesthesia.
